Leverkusen stroll 4-0 past Häcken in Europa League opener

Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen had a winning start into their Europa League campaign with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Swedish champions Häcken on Thursday, reported dpa.

Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz opened the scoring in the 10th minute and Amine Adli doubled the lead six minutes later before the hosts lost control a little bit.

But newly signed Victor Boniface, the tournament top scorer last season while at Belgium's Saint-Gilloise, added the third after already setting up Wirtz' opener in the 66th.

Another new player, Jonas Hofmann, wrapped up matters in the 70th, with Wirtz and Boniface superb in the build-up.

Leverkusen were on fire again although coach Xabi Alonso made five changes after their 2-2 Bundesliga draw at champions Bayern Munich. They are unbeaten in their six official season games with a goal difference of 25-5.

"It was an important victory. The first 25 minutes were very good. We must then do better and not lose control," Alonso said.

"It was our aim to have a deep squad for three competitions. They did a good job."

The other opponents of the 1988 UEFA Cup winners in Group H are Norway's Molde and Azerbaijan's Qarabag.